James McDonald is still in awe of Romantic Warrior as he prepares to chase a record-extending fourth consecutive Group One Longines Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) on the champion galloper at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The 10-time Group One hero and world’s highest-earning racehorse with HK$217.7 million in prize money heads into the city’s richest race off the back of a stunning return from injury, comfortably claiming the Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) last month.

“It’s pretty remarkable to think what he’s trying to achieve. He’s just been such a good horse for such a long time,” McDonald said.

“His longevity’s been remarkable and this Hong Kong Cup, he seems in as good an order as he could possibly be in. We’re really looking forward to the race – obviously it’s a very competitive race and he’ll have to be on his A-game, but he always brings his best no matter what.

“He’s a funny horse – I’ve had nothing like it in my life in terms of I’ve never felt like he’s ever going to lose, no matter what happens. He gives you that much confidence. He’s just a superb racehorse.”

After returning from a Middle East campaign that featured two heartbreaking seconds, Romantic Warrior was found to have a fetlock injury that required surgery in May.

The Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained gelding was nursed back to full health and showed he was still at the top of his game in the Jockey Club Cup, comfortably accounting for Voyage Bubble by a length and a quarter.

After Voyage Bubble set an incredibly slow speed in front, Romantic Warrior clocked 21.73 seconds for the final 200m – quicker than the 22.02 of the world’s best sprinter, Ka Ying Rising, in his Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) romp on the same day.

“People will poke holes in the time, but I thought it was the most perfect prep run you could possibly ask for after such a long lay-off. He’s trained on well since and second up here, he normally jumps out of the ground,” McDonald said.

Romantic Warrior jumps from barrier two in the small field of seven, which features four overseas raiders and a pair of other local hopes.

Japanese galloper Bellagio Opera has won the Group One Osaka Hai (2,000m) in consecutive years, French mare Quisisana won the Group One Prix Jean Romanet (2,000m) in August and ran third to Kalpana in the Group One British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes (2,400m) last start and Rousham Park and Galen are capable on their day.

“[Rousham Park] was highly spruiked a couple of years ago. Bellagio Opera looks in great form. He’s a young horse on the way up,” McDonald said.

“[Quisisana] looks hard to beat. She’s had a terrific year in France and her third at Ascot was brilliant, so there’s definitely good competitors for [Romantic Warrior] and like I say, he’s going to need things to go right. But in saying that, he’ll put himself in a good spot and he should do the rest.”

If he achieves another slice of history as expected on Sunday, Romantic Warrior will return to the Middle East in 2026 with redemption in the Group One Saudi Cup (1,800m) at the top of Shum and owner Peter Lau Pak-fai’s wish list.

McDonald, who was crowned the Longines World’s Best Jockey for a third time on Friday night, will also ride Galaxy Patch in the Group One Hong Kong Mile, Fast Network in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) and Bundle Award in the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) on Sunday.